Homeless Persons' Health Project

Services Provided by HPHP

Medical Care and Treatment – Our medical assistants, nurses, physician assistants and doctors can treat a range of illnesses and conditions, and can provide referrals for more complex medical issues.

We see many patients each day for:

Cold and flu symptoms

Emergency room follow up

Bug bites

Infections

Wounds, and

Aches and pains, and other conditions associated with living outside, or in cramped quarters.

In addition to day-to-day and emergency care, we also emphasize the long-term health and care of our clients. Along with the comprehensive care we provide, continuity of care with the same primary care physician that is patient centered, excellent coordination of care, ease with referrals, expanded access to services, and a commitment to quality care, remain tenets of the Homeless Persons’ Health Project. We pride ourselves on being a Patient Centered Medical Home and strive to improve the quality of care available to our homeless and low-income population. Physician appointments, periodic exams, preventative care, maintenance therapy, acute first aid, and harm reduction practices all help keep our clients to remain as healthy as possible.

Medical tests conducted on site include:

Pap smears

Blood tests

PPD (Tuberculosis skin test)

UA tests (drugs) and more

Treatments provided include:

Vaccinations (Flu, Hep A, Hep B)

Antibiotics

Tetanus shots

Medications for diabetes, high blood pressure, chronic pain, and more.

Our doctors and nurses can make referrals to partner agencies and specialists in the community.

Benefits Advocacy – We assist with benefits applications, including EBT, GA, SSI, SSDI, Medi-Cal, and more. We work with our clients to establish eligibility for appropriate benefits, based on physical and mental health, chronic conditions, etc.

Integrated Behavioral Health Therapy (IBH) – Our psychologist and IBH counselors work with clients on trauma, mental health and substance abuse issues, and other circumstances that hinder progress on the path to healing and housing.

Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) – Medication assisted treatment (MAT) is the use of medications in combination with counseling and behavioral therapies for the treatment of substance use disorders. A combination of medication and behavioral therapies is effective in the treatment of substance use disorders, and can help some people to sustain recovery.

Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) – We have ninety plus formerly homeless people in our housing programs; they live independently in the community, and have support from HPHP medical and case management staff, as needed. Chronic homelessness, substance use, mental illness, physical ailments, and other criteria are used to provide housing placement through the Housing Authority, Front Street Housing Inc., and with local landlords.

Project Connect – Through referrals provided by the Central California Alliance for Health, this program connects with people whom are frequent users of emergency department services. Through medical case management provided by Project Connect team members, clients are able to establish a medical home with a consistent primary care provider, dramatically decreasing unnecessary ED visits and hospital admissions while improving their health outcomes and quality of life..

Contact Information

Homeless Persons' Health Project (HPHP)

115-A Coral St.
Santa Cruz, CA. 95060
(located at Rebele Family Shelter Building at Highway 1 and River St.)